Air-conditioned face mask



May 2, 1950 N. E. GADDINI 2,506,296

AIR CONDITIONED, FACE MASK Filed Dec. 11, 1948 "1231;11:1373} Gaddi w MM ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTIOFFICE,

Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,825

6 Claims.

, 1 1 i This invention relates in general to an im proved air filter type face or respirator mask for use by persons subject to the occupational hazard of dust, or other foreign substance, in the air; the mask being especially designed, but not limited, for use by the operator of tractor-drawn agricultural or earth working equipment.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mask, for nose and mouth protection, which is adapted to supply a gentle but continual stream of conditioned air to the wearer of the mask; such air stream being created by connecting the air exhaust fitting of the mask to a source of constant suction, such as the air intake device of a tractor.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a mask, for the purpose described, which embodies a novel unit for filtering, and-if desiredcooling, the air entering the mask; such unit includinga removable filter and sponge assembly of especially effective design.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a'mask, as above, which is simple in structure, light in weight, and very comfortable when in use. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a mask which functions efficientl-y under any atmospheric conditions; fresh filtered air feeding to the mask, and all stale, humid air exhausting therefrom, both as an automatic and continuous operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air conditioned face mask which is designed for economy and ease of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a practical and reliable air conditioned face mask, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as willfully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mask as in use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the mask.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified type of sponge for use in the filter and sponge assembly.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a tractor showing the manner of connecting the mask to the air intake device of a tractor.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of referenceon the drawings, the improved vide a nose and mouth shield when in engagee ment with the face of a wearer, as in Fig. l; the body I being held in place by an encircling head strap 2.

At its free or peripheral edge the cup-like body I is formed with a sponge rubber bead'3 which seals with the face and also assures of comfort of the mask when worn.

1 At the bottom thereof the body I is formed with an air intake passage 4, and directly ahead of said passage there is an air outlet or exhaust passage 5.

A relatively short dependent neck 6 is formed on the body I at the bottom in communication with the air intake passage 4, and an outwardly projecting fitting I is formed on the body in communication with the air exhaust. passage 5.

Directly below the body I the maskiincludes a relatively small, light-weight, rectangular container 8 which includes a removable top 9; the container normally being secured against the top by means of spring clips III at opposite ends of said container.

The neck 6 is fixed to, and communicates through, the top 9 centrally of its ends, whereby the entire container 8 is suspended from the body I.

Opposed walls or sides II of the container 8 are perforate, as shown, and such perforate walls are covered, inside the container 8, by removable filter sheets I2. Inwardly of the filter sheets I2 the container 8 is filled with relatively small sponges l3; I

In lieu of the relatively small sponges I3, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be desirable to employ a one-piece sponge I4, as shown in Fig. 3; such one-piece sponge I4 being shaped to matchingly engage in the container 8 inwardly of the filter sheets I2. The one-piece sponge I4 is vertically corrugated, as at I5, to assure of the free entry of air into the container 8 through the perforate walls II and filter sheets I2.

The above described respirator mask is used. for example, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein:

The numeral I6 indicates generally a tractor having an air intake device I! wherein a suction is continuously created. A conduit I8 is connected to the air intake device I! in a manner so that such conduit is subject to the suction from said device. Adjacent the operator's seat I 9 the conduit I8 connects to a flexible hose 20, which is of substantial length and which leads mask comprises a cup-like body I shaped to proto connection with the air exhaust fitting I of the it is desirable that the filtered air, as fed into the body I, be cooled. This is accomplished by ..wet

ting the sponges [3, or sponge I4, whichever may Thereafter, the air flowing through be in use.

the filter sheets [2 is cooled .byevaporation-as. it

maskis not-. great, it is possible for one wettingot=.the..sponge-material in the container- 8 to last for relatively long periods, without rewetting of saidmaterial.

vWhile the.:use of the device isdescribed: as in connection with a tractor, it is obvious that the source. of suction may be other than the air intake. deviceoi a tractor.

- The. described mask, although of simple construction, isnevertheless exceedingly effective for the. supply. offresh air, and.if desired'-coo1 air, for. respirationv by tractor operators: or' the like whoare normally subjecttoairwhich carries large quantities of dust or other. foreign substance.

From theflforegoing. description it will begreadihnSeenthat-there;has.been produced such-a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the.,in-- vention, as set .forth herein.

- While this. specificationsets forth indetail the presentiandgpref erred construction of the device, still-in practice, such deviations irom-suchdetail may .be resorted .to .as: do not form a. departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined-.bythe appended claims.

.Having thus-described the invention, the. .fol.-.-' lowing; isclaimed-asnew. and useful, andjupon which Letters Patent are desired:

, 1. A. re spirato r mask comprising a, head-supported, cup like body adapted to provide a nose tion with the body, an air filter unit connected to the air intake passage, a source of suction, and a conduit leading from the air exhaust passage to connection with said source of suction.

2. A respirator mask comprisinng a head-supported, cup-like body adapted to provide a nose and mouth shield, there being an air intake passage and an air exhaust passage in communication with the body, an .air, filter, unit, connected to the; air intake passage, a source or; suction, and a conduit leading from the air exhaust passage to connection with said source of suction;

' the mask being adapted for use by a tractor opcrater, and: said source of suction bein the air 5::

intake. device o f the tractor.

' 3. In combination with a tractor including an aicz-intakesdevicerproviding a source of suction, a respirator mask including air intake means having a filter therein, there being an air exhaust tractor; said airintake means: having an= air-' cooling :medium therein.-

5: Incombination with a tractor including'an' air'intake device providing-a source of suc tion, a respirator mask including air intake means havin la filter therein, there being a'n-air exhaust passage in the mask, and conduit means flexible adjacent themask: connected between said air exhaust passage and the air intake de vicezoiithe tractor;- said airintake means -having an air cooling of: aiwet spongei 6 In 1 combination with a tractor including an air: intake device providing asource" ofsuction,

a respirator mask including air intake n' 'eans having... a filterit herein,there-being an" air exhaust passagein the: mask; and conduit means;

flexible adjacent the mask connected betweensaid air exhaust passageand the air intake' deivice. of the tractor; said -air intake means} having an evaporative air cooling medium there'lnu NORMAN-E5 GADDINI:

REEERENGES ;CITED The following-references are; of recordjn the file of this patent;

IE L F A ES T N Number; Name r Date;

2,003,617 7 Booharin" -J.u1y.23;-. 19.35;. 2,220,374

Lewisyn Nov; 5; 194o medium therein in the 5 form 

